Indian PM leaves for Afghanistan visit

NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh flew Thursday to Afghanistan, where India and Pakistan are jockeying for influence ahead of an eventual withdrawal of US forces.

The two-day visit is Singh's first for six years and talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai were expected to focus on Indian aid and regional security.

"We are people of the same region. We cannot remain unaffected by developments in Afghanistan," Singh said in a pre-departure statement.

India has committed $1.3 billion to Afghanistan since 2001 for projects ranging from building new roads to electricity lines and even constructing the new national parliament.

"Terrorism will form a part of the agenda, but there will be other issues. A major focus is how we can strengthen our capacity to help Afghanistan further," a senior government source said.

India is vying with Pakistan for influence in Afghanistan and is eyeing the withdrawal of US-led forces from mid-2011 with concern.

Singh's trip to Afghanistan comes against the backdrop of Osama bin Laden's death earlier this month, which has strengthened calls in the United States for a quick draw-down of troops from July.

Both India and Afghanistan have troubled relationships with Pakistan, which they have accused of supporting or sheltering militant leaders who orchestrate attacks in the region.

The government source said India wanted "to hear what President Karzai has to say about" the death of bin Laden.

"Al Qaeda is obviously of concern to all of us. We hope it (the death of bin Laden) will affect the operations of al Qaeda in Afghanistan."

Ahead of the withdrawal of US troops, the source said India had no plans to increase its military involvement in Afghanistan beyond specific training missions that it offers now, but this could change if demanded by Kabul.

"It would all depend on what Afghanistan wants. If Afghanistan feels comfortable to broach that question (an increased Indian role) it will have to be discussed," the source said.

Karzai has visited India 10 times since 2002. Singh has not been to Afghanistan since 2005.